Cole took the phone from my hands and adjusted my body so I could look at him without angling my head. “This is probably a stupid question, but are you okay?”

I wiped at the one tear that had slipped down my cheek. “Actually, I am. I needed to do that. It was time.”

Though I would probably freak out later about what I’d done, I needed to focus on Cole. “The better question is, are you okay?” After five days of worrying and wondering about him, it felt odd to be so close to him without having resolved anything.

“I am now. Sorry I missed most of your party. My flight got canceled, and I had to catch the next available one. It was stupid to cut it so close.”

A lump the size of Nevada got stuck in my throat, making it almost impossible to respond. “I thought you’d broken up with me and hadn’t gotten around to telling me yet.”

“What?” He looked genuinely shocked. “Why would you think that?”

“You didn’t reply to a single text or call all week. What was I supposed to think, especially after you left so angry?”

His face paled. “I needed space to work some things out. I had no idea you would think that. Why didn’t Shane and Nic explain?”

I chewed on my lip, feeling ridiculous for prolonging my own torture. Hindsight was a bitch. “I kind of avoided them since I didn’t know what was going on with us, and I didn’t want to put them in the middle.”

Cole hung his head. “I’m so sorry, Em. I told you I would screw up this boyfriend thing. If you haven’t already figured it out, I have a problem with running when bad stuff happens. It’s how I’ve always dealt with the shit in my life.”

“I’m the one who should be apologizing. That’s why I wanted so desperately to talk to you. I never should have investigated Jeremy like that, and I definitely shouldn’t have kept my suspicions from you.”

His expression finally lightened, and I saw a little bit of my Cole returning. “Does this mean we can both promise to never do it again and move on?”

“You’re going to let it go, just like that?”

“I think the last five days proved it wasn’t just like that. Believe it or not, Tammy helped me figure out that you were trying to protect me.”

“Jeremy’s girlfriend? You met her?”

“Yeah, that’s why I dragged Jeremy to Pasadena with me. I needed to hear the entire story, and I didn’t trust him to give it to me. Anyway, Tammy said she couldn’t imagine having someone care about her enough to do what you did for me.” He twined our fingers together. “I’ve been used by my family so many times that it’s hard for me to differentiate between betrayal and protection.”

I skimmed my hand over his cheek, loving the feel of his soft stubble scratching my skin. “This may be hard for you to believe right now, but I would never betray you.”

“I know.” He kissed my palm. “And as difficult as it must have been to tell your parents about me and Nicholas, thank you for that. I hope your mother comes around.”

“Me too.” Not wanting to dwell on it, I turned the conversation back to Jeremy. “Did you work things out with your brother?”

Cole let out an exasperated sigh. “Yes and no. I told him he wasn’t welcome to continue working at the club if he was going to illegally gamble all his earnings away.”

“Which explains the exchange with Mr. Snake Tattoo in the alley, I’m guessing.”

“Yeah, he refused to provide details on that particular transaction, which is probably for the best. I have no desire to involve myself in his illegal activities.”

“What about Tammy? Did he tell you why he left her? And what about the whole tech school thing?”

He ran a hand through his hair in agitation. “Jeremy insists he moved to Vegas so he could make enough money to help support her and the baby. His plan was to get me to pay for tech school, and he would make loads of money gambling everything he earned at the club while taking classes. He swears it was all for her.

“I would think it was utter bullshit, but he was different around Tammy. In his own idiotic way, I think he was trying to do the right thing.”

After our confrontation, it was difficult for me to trust Jeremy’s professed good intentions. His plan did make sense, though, in a twisted way. “What’s he going to do now?”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I moved Tammy into a safer apartment and assured her I would cover rent for a year, whether or not Jeremy moves in with her. It’s up to her. She was pretty pissed at him when she found out about the gambling and the shitty way he treated you.”

“You told her? I’m sure that set him off.”

Cole laughed. “Yes, but Tammy gave him quite the tongue-lashing, and by the end of it, he was begging for forgiveness. It was rather entertaining.”

“Did you see your mother while you were there?”

His amused expression hardened. “I stopped by her place. She wasn’t exactly grateful for the groceries I’ve been having delivered, but she quickly gave up on trying to get cash out of me. So, I’m considering it a successful visit.”

He kissed me lightly. “Now, enough about that. It’s your birthday—we should be celebrating.”

I forced myself to move off his lap. “Yeah, I need to get back to the party. I only meant to be away for a few minutes.”

He took one of my hands. “There’s somewhere I want to take you first.”

“What about the guests?”

“They’re receiving VIP treatment on steroids. I’m sure they won’t complain. And Nic knows you’re with me.”

“Okay,” I agreed easily. Now that I was back with Cole, I didn’t want to let him go again so soon.

He guided me up the back staircase to the balcony and then opened a door I’d never seen. Another flight of steps appeared to lead to the roof.

I lifted one foot to show him my spiky heel. “I want you to appreciate how challenging it is to climb stairs in these shoes.”

“You better go first, then, so I can make sure you don’t fall.”

“Are you sure you don’t just want a peek up my skirt?”

“Oh, I definitely want a peek.”

I carefully ascended the stairs and let out a gasp when I reached the roof. A path of lanterns led to a gorgeous white tent, the sides billowing slightly in the breeze. A heater that had likely been stolen from the patio sat right outside the tent, warming the space.

“What’s all this?”

“I asked Xavier to set it up when I realized I might miss your party. It’s amazing what he can accomplish in a few hours.”

Stepping into the tent, I gaped at the luxurious purple chaise surrounded by candles and scattered rose petals. A small table held a tray of chocolates and a chilling bottle of champagne.

“This is incredible. You should start paying him for these types of favors.”

“Actually, Shane, Nic, and I hired him as our joint personal assistant last week.”

“It’s about time,” I teased.

“Trust me, I know.” Cole poured us each a glass of champagne before lifting his for a toast. “Happy birthday, Emma.”

We clinked glasses, then I took a sip of the delicious bubbly. It was the good stuff, as was the smooth dark chocolate that melted in my mouth.

I smiled up at Cole. “This was unnecessary, but thank you. It’s wonderful.”

He placed both of our glasses on the table before drawing me into his arms. His dark eyes glimmered in the candlelight as he drank me in, seeming to memorize every detail of my face.

“I’m in love with you.” He released a deep breath while I held mine. “I don’t know when it happened, I just know it did. I love you, and now you have the power to hurt me.” His hands cupped my jaw, and his lips feathered over mine. “Please don’t hurt me, Em.”

An unexpected mixture of desperation and longing seeped out of him with those words, spurring on my own declaration. I didn’t want him to doubt me or how I felt about him, especially now that I was sure.

“I love you too.”

I looped my arms around his neck as his mouth settled over mine, demanding yet gentle. One of his hands trailed down the exposed skin of my back while the other toyed with the hem of my skirt. Slowly, his fingers inched up the outside of my thigh before sliding over the globe of my ass. He squeezed while lifting me up and against him, and I groaned into his mouth as I wound my legs around his waist, his hardness pressing into me.

Carrying me the few steps to the chaise, he gently lowered me onto my back. I reached for the zipper at the side of my dress, but he stopped me. “We don’t have to do this, if you’re not ready.”

I smiled, appreciating this gallant side to him, even if it was unnecessary. “I want you, Cole. Now.”

“Thank god,” he sighed, moving my hand away to unzip the dress himself. I sat up so he could lift it over my head, and he carefully laid it over the back of the chaise. I peeled off my backless bra, leaving me in nothing but my skimpy thong and shoes.

I could feel my skin flush and nipples harden under his stare as he leisurely perused every inch of my body. His eyes lingered on my stilettos, his mouth widening into a devilish grin. “You’re keeping those on.”

“Even though they’re the wrong ones?”

“There are no wrong ones when it comes to you in nothing but heels.”

His hands lightly skimmed over my legs until they reached the edges of my panties. After sliding them off, he made quick work of his clothes and my ability to continue carrying on a conversation deserted me.

Cole naked was even better than I expected. His long, lean body dipped and bulged in all the right places. A smattering of black hair covered his chest and ran from his belly button down to his straining cock. He was beautiful enough to grace a magazine cover and sexy enough to make me ache with desire.

Starting with my ankle, he kissed and licked his way up my leg, pausing at the juncture to my thighs. I squirmed, the sight of his dark head and bright smile lingering there driving me crazy.

In a move too smooth to be unpracticed, he lifted my hips and plunged his tongue between my folds. The fleeting thought of his previous lovers vanished as I grabbed hold of the armrest to keep from reaching down and pulling out his hair. His mouth and tongue were magic as he brought me to orgasm quicker than I knew was possible.

Shuddering, I called his name, not caring that we were outside where anyone on the street or patio below could hear us.

He rose to kiss me, and the taste of myself on his tongue inflamed me even as my body fell slack in satisfaction. “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re lucky I didn’t stab you with a stiletto.”

He laughed, then sobered as he removed a condom from his wallet and slid it on. Brushing a strand of hair off my cheek, he gazed at me with wonder. “I didn’t know it would feel like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like everything I’ll ever need is already in my arms.”

My heart shattered, the moment suddenly too fragile. All I could do was embrace it, embrace him, and do everything within my power to hang on.

“Make love to me, Cole.” It was such a cheesy thing to say, but it was the only thing that felt right. This was more than just sex for both of us.

Without hesitation, he entered me with a single thrust, then fused his mouth to mine. We moved together like we had years of practice, but every touch, kiss, stroke, taste was a new experience. One I wasn’t sure I would ever get enough of.

When I thought I wouldn’t be able to draw another breath, he released my mouth and dropped his forehead to mine. “You feel amazing, Em.”

Linking my ankles behind his back, I pulled him even deeper inside me. He groaned and increased his pace while my fingers dug into his back. “So do you,” I panted.

Sensing he desired complete control, I lifted my arms over my head and waited. As expected, he immediately pinned them there with one hand before lifting my ass with the other. Now at the perfect angle, he rocked in and out of me, his muscles tense. With my climax building, I clenched around him, and he followed me into ecstasy, thrusting until he collapsed.

After a few seconds of ragged breathing, he pushed off of me and stood on what appeared to be shaky legs. I smiled, choosing to believe I’d made Cole weak in the knees.

Looking almost bewildered, he laughed. “Damn, that was . . . I don’t even know what that was.”

“Good?”

He shot me a half-hearted scowl. “More like fucking fantastic. Please tell me you agree.”

“Oh, I agree.”

Taking hold of my hands, he lifted me to my feet and pulled me into his arms. “I wish your party wasn’t still going on so we could do that again.”

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” I teased, though I would have been perfectly content to stay there wrapped up in his warmth and scent.

He planted a lingering kiss on my lips before stepping away and handing me my thong, bra, and dress. “Get dressed now before I ravish you again.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cole growled but turned away and reached for his clothes. I quickly dressed, then combed my fingers through my hair, trying to work through the tangles. “Everyone is going to know what we’ve been doing.”

“I hope so.” His satisfied smile was enough to convince me to stop caring. It was my birthday, after all. If I wanted to sneak away to have roof sex with my boyfriend—well, one of them—without regret, I would.

“This couch is totally going in my office.” He ran a hand lovingly over the velvety material.

“It’s technically a chaise, and I didn’t know purple was your color.”

“It is now.” He wrapped an arm around my waist. “Ready?”

Ready to face my friends? Shane and Nicholas after what I’d just shared with Cole? My mother when she eventually started speaking to me again? My graduation? My future?

For the first time since New Year’s Eve, I felt a resurgence of confidence to face all of those challenges and more.

“Yes, I’m ready.”